{
  "id": 18799940,
  "title": "Council wants government to reject 'ugly, out-of-date' town centre plan",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/07/council-wants-government-to-reject-ugly-out-of-date-town-centre-plan",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-11-07T22:04:34.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "ABC News AU",
    "slug": "abc-news-au",
    "url": "https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-11-08/council-calls-to-reject-plans-for-mernda-town-centre/107357130"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Whittlesea council has criticized an updated town centre plan in Mernda, describing it as overly car-centric and unappealing. The council claims the proposed 1,450 homes are insufficient, with potential for 777 to 1,450 dwellings on the 24-hectare site. The plan includes buildings up to 10 stories tall, featuring retail, public spaces, and housing, but council officers argue it prioritizes car use over pedestrian-friendly design. Councillor Jarrod Lappin called the proposal \"isolated, car-centric, a glorified drive-through,\" while RMIT professor Jago Dodson described it as \"ugly and inefficient.\" The developer, Dorman Capital, rejects the council's characterization of the project and maintains it is economically viable today.",
  "summary": "The City of Whittlesea has slammed the updated plan for a town centre next to Mernda train station, with one councillor describing it as a \"glorified drive-through\".",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}